Refractory Ascites

There normally is no extra space inside the abdominal cavity, so when large quantities of ascites accumulate in the abdominal cavity, the sheer volume of liquid puts pressure on the surrounding organs such as the bladder, stomach and even diaphragm. Common symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath and some pain.

Pressure on the stomach can lead to loss of appetite and heartburn, ultimately resulting in malnutrition, and constant shortness of breath can limit a patient’s capacity to perform even minor everyday tasks.

Too much pressure inside the abdomen can lead to the development of hernias around the belly button or in the groin. Patients with ascites are also at high risk of other complications, such as internal infections and kidney problems.

When ascites cannot be mobilized by low sodium diet and diuretic treatment or does recurs shortly after therapeutic paracentesis, is said to be refractory ascites. From the very beginning, our goal was to create a way of removing ascites from the body on a continual basis, reducing or eliminating the occurrence of these unpleasant and harmful complications.